Articles
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Budget & Tax
Lawmakers to reconvene to consider health emergency
An executive order issued by Gov. Kevin Stitt, which declares the existence of a “health emergency in the State of Oklahoma” caused by the COVID-19 virus, also requires lawmakers to return to the Capitol on Monday, April 6, to meet in a special legislative session.Ray Carter | April 2, 2020
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Budget & Tax
COVID-19 and Oklahoma state pension plans
Increased retirement costs from a COLA increase, coupled with the sharp decline in the stock market, may put Oklahoma state pensions at risk.Curtis Shelton | April 2, 2020
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Law & Principles, Culture & the Family
Shutdowns: What’s the point?
Stopping the worst ravages of this virus is an important task for all Americans, including our government officials. The importance of the task provides no excuse for turning the process into a bureaucracy where the means become more important than the ends.Trent England | April 2, 2020
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Economy, Culture & the Family
Businesses ordered to shut down statewide
For the first time, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has ordered the statewide closure of “nonessential” businesses, including in 37 counties that have not yet recorded a case of COVID-19/coronavirus as of the time of his announcement.Ray Carter | April 1, 2020
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Economy, Culture & the Family
City of Norman seeks cessation of waste management
Citing efforts to fight COVID-19/coronavirus, the City of Norman has ordered the closure of a waste-disposal company, despite such businesses being declared “essential” by federal authorities.Ray Carter | April 1, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Economy
Lankford: Federal bill for stabilization, not stimulus
In 2009, as the Great Recession roiled the economy, Congress responded with an enormous “stimulus” package that supporters claimed would reignite economic growth. However, the $2 trillion legislation recently passed by Congress has more modest goals, according to U.S. Sen. James Lankford.Ray Carter | April 1, 2020
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Health Care, Law & Principles
Noneconomic-damages fix must be constitutional, not statutory
Any serious effort to reform a state’s civil justice system must include, as one of its core components, a solution to the problem of excessive claims for noneconomic damages, commonly understood as damages awarded for the pain and suffering experienced by the injured person seeking compensation.Andrew C. Spiropoulos | March 31, 2020
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Higher Education
‘Social justice’ permeates Oklahoma higher education
Social justice education is taking over America’s colleges and universities.David Randall, Ph.D. | March 31, 2020
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Economy, Culture & the Family
COVID-19 not the only threat to Oklahomans’ health, lives
In ordering business closures and restricting citizen movement, government officials have primarily focused on the potential loss of life that could be caused by the COVID-19/coronavirus. Yet experts agree those anti-COVID efforts could also contribute to an increased death count in Oklahoma, highlighting the thin line policymakers are treading.Ray Carter | March 30, 2020
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Economy, Culture & the Family
How far should the government go to enforce an order?
Throwing people out of work, taking away people’s livelihoods, and making people poorer are not the purposes of these orders. And so if an innovative business is able to come up with ways that fully incorporate social distancing into their workplace and customer interactions—why would we shut those businesses down?Jonathan Small | March 30, 2020